Scotland Round-Up | 14th March 2016

Vauxhall International Challenge MatchScotland vs Denmark
Tuesday 29th March 2016, kick-off 8pm
Hampden Park, Glasgow
With Gordon Strachan announcing his Scotland squads for the upcoming matches against Czech Republic and Denmark, we take a look at how the players fared with their clubs in this weekend’s fixtures.

Mixed fortunes in the cup

Watford booked their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a memorable 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday. Scotland’s Ikechi Anya - one of four players to be called up for both the trip to Czech Republic and the visit of Denmark, played the final 17 minutes for Watford, who find out their Wembley opponents this evening.

John McGinn, one of the six new recruits to the Scotland squads for the March friendlies, was less fortunate in cup competition this weekend, as his Hibernian side lost 2-1 to Ross County in the Scottish League Cup Final at Hampden Park.

Scots at the forefront of Premiership title race

Four of Gordon Strachan’s players for the upcoming friendlies featured in Celtic’s 2-1 win over Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. Charlie Mulgrew, Kieran Tierney, Craig Gordon and Leigh Griffiths all started for the Hoops, with Griffiths scoring the opener with his 35th goal of the season.

Celtic’s title challengers, Aberdeen, kept the pressure on the league leaders with a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Pittodrie. Kenny McLean, who is part of the Scotland squad that will travel to Prague, played the full 90 minutes for the Dons.

Crucial points in English relegation battle

Matt Ritchie was an integral part of Bournemouth’s 3-2 victory over Swansea at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The 2015 Scotland Goal of the Year winner set up the winning goal for the Cherries, as Bournemouth moved 13 points away from the relegation zone.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Russell Martin captained Norwich City to a valuable point at home against Manchester City in the Saturday lunchtime Premier League kick-off.

Scotland teammates face each other in English Championship

Two fixtures in the English Championship on Saturday involved Scotland teammates facing each other. Liam Bridcutt was part of the Leeds United team who won at Ewood Park against a Blackburn Rovers team that featured Tony Watt and Grant Hanley. Elsewhere, Oliver Burke, on return from injury, came on for Nottingham Forest in the second half in their 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Barry Bannon started for the Owls at the City Ground, but was sent-off late in the game.

In the other matches in the English Championship, Chris Martin was on target for Derby County in their 3-3 draw away at Rotherham, while Matt Phillips starred for Queens Park Rangers in their 3-0 win over Brentford at Loftus Road. Andrew Robertson and Allan McGregor both played 90 minutes for Hull City in their 1-1 draw at home to MK Dons.